Nicola Davies (judge)

Dame Nicola Velfor Davies DBE (born 13 March 1953)^[1] is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, to which she was appointed in 2018.^[2] At the Bar she practised in medical law. She is referred to as Rt Hon Lady Justice Nicola Davies.

Early life[]

Davies was born in Llanelli, Wales, and grew up in Bridgend. Her father, Eric Davies, was a chartered engineer who was employed by the Steel Company of Wales, and she has a younger brother called Jonathan. She was educated at Bridgend Girls' Grammar School (now closed), where she was the last head girl.^[3] In 1971 she entered Birmingham University to read law.^{[citation needed]}

Career[]

After graduating, Davies worked briefly in a firm of solicitors before becoming an investment analyst in the City of London.^[4] She later decided to become a barrister and did her second six-month pupillage at Carpmael Buildings, which later became 3 Serjeant's Inn. She was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1976.^[3] As a young barrister acting as a junior counsel to the two doctors involved in the Cleveland child abuse cases, she became recognised as a medical specialist. She also became a member of the Treasury Panels.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, at the age of 39, she became a Queen's Counsel, and in 1998 she was appointed to sit as an Assistant Recorder.^[3] She chaired two Inquiries. In 1998 Davies spent six months on the Bristol heart surgeon's case, then took on the defence of the doctor and serial killer Harold Shipman.^[5]

In 2003, Davies was appointed as a deputy High Court judge. On judicial review she quashed a decision to close some National Health Service paediatric surgery units.^[6]

In 2013 Davies was appointed as a Presiding Judge of the Wales Circuit between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017.^[7]

Davies is an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University.^[8]

She was sworn as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2018.

In July 2021, Davies made legal history, chairing the first all-female Court of Appeal session in Wales, sitting alongside Mrs Justice Jefford and Mrs Justice Steyn. ^[9]

References[]

External links[]

• The Rt. Hon. Mrs Justice Nicola Davies DBE, Judicial Appointments Commission

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